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Do you know how to Gua Sha in the HOT weather?

We recently returned from an 18 day trek across China which included riding camels in the Gobi desert!

We did Gua Sha on our selves almost everyday…and I thought since it’s the hottest summer we’ve had in a while here in the US, to write a little bit about what we call “Summer Heat” in Chinese Medicine or what some call Heat Stroke. Summer Heat is a condition when you overheat in the hot weather. Gua Sha can be very helpful with the symptoms of Summer Heat, which are typically:

Throbbing headache

Dizziness or lightheadedness

Hot or red skin

Muscle weakness

Cramps

Nausea

Rapid heartbeat

Shallow breathing

Irritability

Dryness of lips and tongue

While in the Gobi desert I was reminded about my basic rules of doing Gua Sha for Summer Heat:

1) Make sure the body has cooled down before doing Gua Sha – if the body is very hot and clammy, the skin does not take well to Gua Sha. You risk “tearing” the skin even with fairly light Gua Sha. Find a cool, dry area to do the procedure, and wait until the person’s skin has dried a bit. Be especially careful if the person’s skin looks translucent.

2) Make sure the person isn’t dehydrated. If they are, have them drink water and cool down before doing Gua Sha.

3) The primary area you will want to do is the back of the neck and upper back. Also, if the person has a headache, you can go down the back of the head (instead of the customary upward motion on the back of the head). This helps release the pressure in the head.

4) Pay special attention not to do Gua Sha in a windy area if you’re outside or near a fan or air conditioning if you’re inside. This is a general rule due to the affects of “wind” on the body. Wind can cause pain and illness, and Gua Sha opens the pores and makes people more vulnerable to wind.

5) After Gua Sha, have the person get plenty of rest and drink lots of water.

Gua Sha saved us several times when we were in the desert. If you only take one healing tool when you travel, I recommend taking your spoon with you this summer in the hot, hot weather wherever you go!